Calavera de Graciá Amat
Title: Calavera de Graciá Amat
Author: Graciá Amat
Year: c. 1465
Country: Catalonia
Description: Contract for the construction of a caravel.
Owner: Archivo Histórico Protocolos de Barcelona.
Call No.: Notariales IX, 10. Pliego de “Construccio de naus”.
Notes: n/a
Introduction
The term caravel referred to a variety of vessels, from small open decked fishing boats to larger closed-deck ships for trade and exploration. Their lateen rig and shallow draft made them especially suitable for exploration along the coast of Africa during the 15th century. The caravel described in the contract by Graciá Amat was 36 tonéis, or slightly larger than an average fishing vessel. It had a 3:1 keel to beam ratio, two masts, and a bowsprit. Both an axial rudder and two lateral rudders were mounted.
Author
The text states that it is a contract made between Graciá Amat, mariner and citizen of Barcelona, and Miguel Johan and Pere Vicens, “maestros de ribera” and also citizens of Barcelona. An earlier caravel owned by Graciá Amat is mentioned in records dating to 1454 and 1455.
Excerpt
En nom de Deu sia. Amén.
Capitols fets, concordats e avenguts entre en Graciá amat, mariner, ciutedá de Barchinona, de una part ; e en Miquel Johan e Père Vicens, mestres d’aixes, ciutedans de a dita ciutat, de part altra, sobre la construcción de una calavera, la qual los dits mestres d’aixes han a fer e hobrar per lo dit Gracia Amat, en lo ribatge de la mar de Barchilona…
…ço es, lo buch, lo qual sia de XXIIII. fins en XXV. gues de roda a roda. E XVIII, palmes de uberta a cadenes.
E que haia. VII. palms menys. I. quart de puntal e dues de enserrament dessota, e entaulament desobre lo peremitjas e les scohes, e III palms e mig de orla, ab cuberta, e un casseret fins al batiport de popa, arbre ab les entenes e ab la gabia boupres e cadena, arbre de mitjama, ab entenes, timo de roda e II. timones de caxa ab la timonera, III. o IV. Batiports a la dita fusta, squiff e totes altres coses necessaries de fer de mans de mestre d’aixa a la dita fusta…
Testes Johanes Lobera, magister axie: Martinus Bellet, remolarius, cives, e Johanes Fogassot, scriptor Barchinone.
Works Cited
Elbl, Martin Malcolm. (1985) “The Portuguese Caravel and European Shipbuilding: Phases of Development and Diversity.” Revista da Universidade de Coimbra, Vol XXXIII, 563, 571. (Includes a reconstruction of the ship described in the text)
Additional Sources
Etayo, Carlos, Naos y carabelas de los Descubrimientos y las naves de Colón. [n/c]: Industrial Gráfica Aralar, 1971, pp. 125.
Madurell y Marimón, José María. (1968) “Antiguas Construcciones de naves (1316-1740)”, Hispania (1968) 108.
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